Android Wear Now Supports Cellular Connectivity
In today’s wearable news it seems Android has taken a leap forward and has finally made LTE support for its smartwatches a reality. Google has updated its Android Wear OS for smartwatches with cellular service, which means you can now leave your phones at home when you’re on the go. Android wearables will be able to stay connected with a SIM card even when your phone isn’t nearby.
LG’s Watch Urbane 2nd Edition will be the first smartwatch to ship with the SIM feature along with support for cellular connectivity. The watch will be available in the US and South Korea this week. This features puts Android Wear ahead of the Apple’s WatchOS 2 and other platforms out there that don’t support cellular connectivity.
What this feature does is that it allows you to use all the apps on your smartwatch including receiving and sending messages, calls, among other, without having your phone nearby. It will come in handy when you want to go out for a run and leave your phone at home.
While this does put Android Wear ahead of Apple’s WatchOS in terms of functionality, it may not attract too many buyers as cellular connectivity means more strain on your smartwatch’s tiny battery. You may find yourself having to charge your watch frequently. Currently, AT&T and Verizon are selling the watch with cellular connectivity from today.
